Below is the text of a staff report on a proposed resolution of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors to support a BART study on a possible extension of service to West Contra Costa County north of El Cerrito and Richmond

To: Board of Supervisors

From: David Twa, County Administrator

Date: May 7, 2013

Subject: Resolution of Support and Approval of a wBART Study

RECOMMENDATION(S):

ADOPT Resolution No. 2013-196 to support and approve of a wBART study for a BART or alternative rail extension that may serve the communities of San Pablo, Richmond's Hilltop, Pinole and Hercules and link them to existing BART services at the Richmond or El Cerrito Del Norte BART station, as recommended by Supervisor Glover.

FISCAL IMPACT:

No fiscal impact on the County General Fund from this action, as there is no cost to the County arising from support of a study.

BACKGROUND:

On April 16, Mr. Zakhary Mallett introduced himself as the new District 7 Director for the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. Mr. Mallett has requested the Board of Supervisors' consideration of adopting a resolution of support for a feasibility study of wBART: A BART or alternative rail extension in West Contra Costa County.

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After introducing himself to each of the City Councils in West Contra Costa County over the last several weeks, including his priority of pressing for wBART, Mr. Mallett noted that the City Councils had an interest in helping realize traffic relief on the most-congested commute corridor of the San Francisco Bay Region, Interstate 80, through supporting the study of wBART.

In order to make this support official and build political momentum for this effort, Mr. Mallett has asked each City Council to adopt a resolution of support for the study of wBART. San Pablo and Pinole were the first two cities to take actions toward this end. Pinole passed a resolution of support on April 2, which was detailed in a West County Times article. On Monday, April 8, the City of San Pablo adopted a resolution that amended their annual work plan to include a policy item for "Traffic Congestion Feasibility Studies," which allowed them to adopt a resolution supporting the study of wBART at their Council meeting on April 15.

On April 23, Mr. Mallett will be presenting a history and background of wBART to the Hercules City Council. Mr. Mallett is anticipating that the Hercules City Council will vote to adopt a resolution of support for the study at their next meeting. On May 7, 2013 the Richmond City Council is scheduled to consider adoption of a resolution of support for the study.

Attached to this item is a letter to Supervisor Gioia from Richard Mitchell, Director Planning and Building Services for the City of Richmond regarding the proposed study to consider extending BART from (the) Del Norte Station.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

If the Board of Supervisors does not adopt the Resolution, there will be no official position of support from Contra Costa County for the wBART study.

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:

None.

Resolution No. 2013/196

A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA, CALIFORNIA FOR THE STUDY OF WBART: A BART OR ALTERNATIVE RAIL EXTENSION IN WEST CONTRA COSTA COUNTY

WHEREAS, the communities of West Contra Costa County have paid into the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) for more than forty (40) years and not benefited wholly from BART services; and

WHEREAS, West Contra Costa County is the densest subregion of Contra Costa County; and WHEREAS, the West Contra Costa County subregion has the highest count and share of local residents who are low-income and/or transit-dependent in Contra Costa County; and

WHEREAS, the Interstate 80 corridor has been rated the most-congested travel corridor in the San Francisco Bay Area region for more than a decade by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC); and

WHEREAS, more than 14,000 cumulative hours are wasted in traffic each weekday on Interstate 80 between Crockett and the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge; and

WHEREAS, it is projected that by 2025, 68% of the West Contra Costa County working community will commute to locations outside of West Contra Costa County and 60% of those commuters will commute to destinations in Berkeley, Oakland, or San Francisco; and

WHEREAS, with more than 8,000 average weekday riders, the El Cerrito Del Norte BART station is the most-congested regional transfer station in the BART network and second most-congested home origin station of the East Bay; and

WHEREAS, nearly 60% of the riders at the El Cerrito Del Norte BART station live north of both El Cerrito and Richmond; and

WHEREAS, relieving traffic in the vicinity of the El Cerrito Del Norte BART station in order to promote economic and/or transit-oriented development is a county priority.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the board of supervisors of the County of Contra Costa, California finds that the existing public transit infrastructure that serves West Contra Costa County commuters is insufficient at meeting both existing and future travel needs.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the board of supervisors of the County of Contra Costa, California provides its support and approval of a wBART study for a BART or alternative rail extension that may serve the communities of San Pablo, Richmond's Hilltop, Pinole, and Hercules and link them to existing BART services at the Richmond or El Cerrito Del Norte BART stations.

Contact: L. DeLaney, 925-335-1097

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the board of supervisors on the date shown.

ATTESTED: May 7, 2013

David J. Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the board of supervisors